President Jacob Zuma says
the Operation Phakisa project has attracted billions of
rands in investments since it was launched three years
ago. He said this when fielding questions in
the National Assembly in Parliament recently.
Operation Phakisa was launched in 2014 to fast-track the
implementation of key economic and social development
projects through a unique service model adapted from
Malaysia.
President Zuma said the programme was unique because it
brought together sectors like business, labour, academia
and government; sectors that traditionally did not plan
together, to work out the most ideal plans to achieve
growth and development.
"The Ocean Economy has attracted R24 billion in
investments. The Department of Trade and Industry has
provided incentives to the value of R428 million.
"The global amount of R24 billion consists of
investments from different companies of the Ocean
Economy Lab. The Maritime Transport and Manufacturing
Delivery Unit has secured investments to the value of
R5,6 billion while the oil and gas component unlocked a
total of R18,4 billion," he said.
The President said the aquaculture leg of Operation
Phakisa's Ocean Economy had so far raised R444 million
while the marine protection services and governance
raised R31 million. The coastal and marine tourism
sector raised R40 million.
"Skills development is a core component of the Ocean
Economy. A total of 614 women have been trained in the
marine and manufacturing sector and 733 women in the
marine transport sector. More than a thousand youth have
been trained in marine manufacturing and close to 2 000
in marine transport sector," he said.
Meanwhile, President Zuma said over 1 000 clinics had to
date achieved their ideal clinic status.
The Ideal Clinic Programme is aimed at improving the
quality of care at primary healthcare facilities.
The President said an ideal clinic was one with good
infrastructure, adequate staff, adequate medicine and
supplies, good administrative processes and sufficient
bulk supplies that used applicable clinical policies,
protocols, guidelines as well as partner and stakeholder
support.
He said these elements were important to ensure the
provision of quality health services to the community.
"By the end of June 2017, a total of 1 188 clinics in
the public sector had achieved their ideal clinic
status.
"This performance translates to 32% of the existing
stock of 3 477 primary healthcare facilities. The set
target is that 2 823 primary healthcare facilities
should reach the ideal clinic status by March 2019," he
said.
He said Operation Phakisa in the basic education sector,
which promoted the use of Information and Communication
Technology (ICT) for teaching and learning, had reached
milestones.
"Approximately 54% of the more than 25 000 schools had
acquired connectivity through various technologies.
"A total of 31 800 teachers have been trained in various
levels of ICT skills.
"In this way ¡K the archaic methods of teaching and
learning are being rapidly replaced as teachers and
learners move towards 21st century approaches,"
President Zuma said. ¡V Source:
SAnews.gov.za |